Data entry via on-screen display

ABSTRACT

A recording playback device having a database of recordings with titles, automatically enters a title input mode upon receiving character input from a user while a recording is being played if the there is not title in the database for the recording. Playback of the recording is not interrupted in the title input mode. In the case of a DVD player, the on-screen display mode is used to display the characters entered by the user on the same video display used for video content from the DVD.

[0001] A compact disc is included herewith and incorporated by referenceherein having thereon a computer program listing appendix in the ASCIIuncompressed text format with ASCII carriage return, ASCII line feed andall control codes defined in ASCII, having computer compatibility withIBM PC/XT/AT or compatibles, having operating system compatibility withMS-Windows and including file PROGRA˜1.TXT (ProgramListing.txt inWindows) of 5,792 bytes, created on Nov. 28, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to entering text using consumerelectronics equipment, and, more particularly, to entering informationrelated to recordings accessible for playing by the consumer electronicsequipment.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] The use of disc changers to play compact discs (CDs) and digitalversatile discs (DVDs) has increased significantly in recent years, butit remains difficult for users to identify a disc or obtain informationabout discs in a changer. Many disc changers available today,particularly those holding 50 or more discs, maintain a database of thediscs stored in the changer. However, the input device used to entertextual information, such as titles of the discs, may be on thefaceplate of the disc changer or on a handheld remote. Some equipmentdoes have separate alphanumeric keyboards for data input, but the inputmode is completely separate from playing the discs. This is similar toalphanumeric input in video games, such as when saving a game. Allaction stops while the text input occurs.

[0006] An example of a system that pauses playback of video data topermit data entry is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,468 to Barylawhich is directed to digital video displayed on a personal computer,rather than prerecorded video on discs. The text entered while the videois paused is used to provide comments by reviewers prior to distributionof the video, to aid in scene selection and editing. No description isprovided in the '468 patent of how the title is initially associatedwith the video; the first mention of entering a title is in reference toselecting the video to be played back.

[0007] One of the problems with entering textual data related to DVDsand CDs is associating the textual data with a disc. The way this isusually done is to first input a slot identifier identifying a positionin the changer, and then input the text associated with the slot. Thisrequires that the user know what disc is in each slot for which textualdata is being entered. Many times a user will have no idea what is ineach slot of the changer at this point. This requires that the disc beremoved from the changer to determine what the disc is. This can oftencause issues with the changer identification because the changer keys onwhether the user has removed or inserted discs. The simple action oftaking the disc out to identify it often kicks off a chain reactionwhere the changer tries to do something with the disc once it isreinserted. The user must also be careful in most cases to place thedisc back into the exact same slot in the changer. Failure to do so canresult in incorrect information being displayed for the disc because itis now in a different slot than expected by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An aspect of the present invention is to simplify the process ofinputting textual data related to recordings, such as DVDs and CDs.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide text inputfor entering titles of DVDs and CDs during playback of a recordingstored thereon.

[0010] Yet another aspect of the present invention is to use existingon-screen display (OSD) capabilities of DVD players for display oftextual data entered by a user for use as a title of the DVD.

[0011] The above aspect can be obtained by a method of inputting textassociated with a recording, including detecting activation of a datainput device during playback of the recording and automatically enteringa data input mode in response to activation of the data input device,while continuing playback of the recording. When the recording generatesa video display, preferably the text entered by the user is displayed onthe same screen as the video, e.g., using an on-screen displaycapability of the playback device.

[0012] Preferably, as the data input mode is automatically entered, thefirst character entered is captured in addition to initiating data entryfor subsequent characters of a title for the recording, but only if atitle for the recording is not already stored in a database. This avoidsgeneration of the on-screen display caused by an accidental activationof a input device, such as a wireless keyboard. Preferably, a keycombination, such as Ctrl-Alt-Shift-M, is used to enter a “MasterEdit”mode in which the title and any other information related to the discthat is stored may be edited. This technique may be used to identifydiscs in a DVD changer using a database containing at least DVDidentifiers and titles, permitting users to select discs in the changerby title.

[0013] These together with other aspects and advantages which will besubsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus in which the presentinvention can be implemented.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] The present invention may be implemented on any type of playbackdevice that includes a way to provide title information to a user.Conventionally, information about a recording is presented to a user onsome type of display, although some devices may use speech synthesis orrecorded voice to provide audio output of the title. In the exemplaryembodiment described below, the invention is used in conjunction with aDVD changer and the video screen that displays the video portion of arecording on a DVD is used to display the textual information entered bya user. However, conventional DVD playback devices are able to playbackrecordings in other formats, such as compact discs, video compact discs,etc. Regardless of whether there is video content on the recording, theon-screen display typically provided in DVD playback devices can be usedduring playback of a recording. Playback devices which do not have thisinherent capability can be modified or connected to another device toprovide a display for input of textual data.

[0017] In the preferred embodiment, a controller for a DVD changerincludes the components illustrated in FIG. 1. In this example, thecontroller uses a personal computer architecture that includesconventional Northbridge 10 and Southbridge 12 structures (VT82C598MVPand VT82C686A, respectively, from VIA Technologies, Inc. of Taipei,Taiwan), a processor (CPU 14), such as a K6 2/400AFK from Advanced MicroDevices Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif., cache memory 16, main memory (SDRAM)18, BIOS ROM 20 and input/output interfaces, such as USB-IR 22 which inthis case provides interface for remote input via a wireless (infrared)keyboard 24. Other components illustrated in FIG. 1 that are commonlyfound in personal computers include 1394 controller 26 for interfacingwith external devices, such as other DVD changer(s) using the IEEE-1394standard also known as FIREWIRE and hard drive 28 which may be anIntegrated Drive Electronics Interface (IDE) hard drive connected to CPU14 via IDE bus 29. Components required for playback of DVDs that arealso connected to the Northbridge structure 10 and Southbridge structure12 via PCI bus 30 or ISA bus 32, include MPEG2 decoder 34, such as anEM8220 from Sigma Designs of Milpitas, Calif., and audio DSP 36, such asa Crystal CS492604-CL from Cirrus Logic of Austin, Tex. The video outputsignal is generated by video processor 38, such as a CyberPro 5005 fromTVIA, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif. using video memory (e.g., SDRAM) 40 toproduce an output at video output 42.

[0018] As noted above, conventional video playback devices often includean on-screen text display used for indicating selected channel or videoinput, rewind, play, fast forward, etc. The present invention utilizesthis conventional capability of video processors like the CyberPro 5005to display text over video signals that continue to be displayed. Ifdesired, the size of the text that is conventionally displayed may bereduced slightly to enable an entire title to appear on the screen.Processor 14 serves as a control unit to specify the text to bedisplayed by video processor 38, serving as an output unit, in responseto input of data received by USB-IR 22 as a data input unit and harddrive 28 as a storage unit.

[0019] An example of the procedure performed by CPU 14 is illustrated inFIG. 2. In a conventional manner, a recording, such as a DVD movie, isselected and begins to be played in response to user inputs. In thepreferred embodiment, a disc identification process is used to obtaintitles of DVDs without requiring user input. Information on the DVD isread 46 and at least one database is searched 48 for title information.The database containing titles and other information may be pre-storedin the playback device, or accessible from a local or remote deviceconnected to the playback device, via a local serial connection or theInternet. The disc identifier used may be any information stored on orassociated with the disc.

[0020] When CPU 14 detects 50 playback of a DVD that does not have atitle stored in a database accessible by the playback device, playbackof the DVD begins 52 in conventional full-screen video mode while CPU 14monitors for keyboard input. If activation of any character key isdetected 54 during playback of the DVD contents, i.e., anytime duringplayback of video or menus from the DVD, CPU 14 enters a data input modefor the title of the DVD using the on-screen display capability providedby video processor 38. The character that activates the data input modeis captured as the first character in the title of the DVD.

[0021] When CPU 14 detects 56 the end of data input, e.g., by the userdepressing the “Enter” key, the title that has been entered anddisplayed using the on-screen display is stored 58 in the database.Preferably, playback settings, such as language, surround sound mode,and any other user-selectable settings set using CPU 14 are stored inthe database, so that these settings can automatically be used the nexttime the DVD is played. A confirmation message indicating “titleupdated” is displayed using the on-screen display for a short period oftime and then the on-screen display disappears in a manner similar tothe display of “PLAY” by conventional video cassette recorders. Theinformation in the database can be used not only for display on thevideo screen via video out 42, but also on any other display that canreceive information from CPU 14, such as a liquid crystal display (notshown) on the housing of the DVD changer.

[0022] In the preferred embodiment, the on-screen display capabilitiesof video processor 38 are also used to edit data stored in the database,even while contents of the DVD are being displayed. Preferably, aspecial key combination, such as Ctrl-Alt-Shift-M, is used to enter adata edit mode. When CPU 14 detects 60 the special key combination, theon-screen display is activated to display contents of the databaserecord for the DVD. The title can be changed and any other information,such as style or rating may be changed. In the preferred embodiment,playback settings are automatically updated in the database record ifthere is a change. Optionally, a confirmation to change the settings maybe displayed using the on-screen display, and a password may berequested to alter the contents of the database.

[0023] In addition to the special key combination to access all contentsof the database, CPU 14 preferably monitors 62 for keywords, such asSTYLE and RATING. Assuming the title has already been entered, thecharacters are not displayed until a complete keyword is detected. Inresponse to detecting a keyword, CPU 14 causes video processor 38 todisplay a prompt, such as “ready for style name” or “ready for rating”.Subsequent characters are displayed as they are entered and are storedupon receiving an end of data indication in response to which thedatabase is updated as described above for the title.

[0024] The many features and advantages of the invention are apparentfrom the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by theappended claims to cover all such features and advantages of theinvention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur tothose skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention tothe exact construction and operation illustrated and described, andaccordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of inputting text associated with arecording, comprising: detecting activation of a data input deviceduring playback of the recording; and automatically entering a datainput mode in response to said detecting, while continuing playback ofthe recording.
 2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least partof the output from the recording appears on a video screen, and whereinsaid entering includes generating a display for data input on the videoscreen displaying the output from the recording.
 3. A method as recitedin claim 2, wherein the data input device is a keyboard, wherein saiddetecting includes detecting a first character to begin said generatingof the display, and wherein said entering includes displaying andstoring characters input from the keyboard, starting with the firstcharacter.
 4. A method as recited in claim 3, further comprising storinginformation associated with the recording, and wherein said entering isperformed only if the information associated with the recording is notpreviously stored when the first character is detected.
 5. A method asrecited in claim 4, wherein the recording is a digital versatile disc,and wherein said entering includes entering a title of the digitalversatile disc.
 6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein saidgenerating is performed by a digital versatile disc player usingon-screen display capability.
 7. A method as recited in claim 6, whereinsaid storing uses a database accessible by the digital versatile discplayer and including at least identifiers and titles for digitalversatile discs, and wherein said method further comprises determining,upon detection of the first character, whether the digital versatiledisc currently being played has a corresponding identifier in thedatabase.
 8. A recording playback and data input device, comprising: anoutput unit to output the recording and produce an on-screen textdisplay; a data input unit; and a control unit, coupled to said outputunit and said data input unit, to automatically activate the on-screentext display and enter a data input mode upon detecting input of datausing said data input unit during playback of the recording.
 9. A deviceas recited in claim 8, wherein the device is coupled to a video screen,wherein said output unit generates a video output on the video screenbased on a video signal stored on the recording and overlays the videooutput with the on-screen text display, and wherein said control unitcontinues playback of the recording in the data input mode.
 10. A deviceas recited in claim 9, wherein said device is coupled to a keyboard,wherein said data input unit receives signals from the keyboard, whereinsaid control unit detects input of a first character from the keyboardand in response causes said output unit to generate the on-screen textdisplay for characters input using the keyboard, starting with the firstcharacter, and wherein said device further comprises a storage unit,coupled to said control unit, to store the characters input from thekeyboard as information related to the recording.
 11. A device asrecited in claim 10, wherein said control unit activates the on-screentext display only if there is no information related to the recordingstored in said storage unit when input of the first character isdetected.
 12. A device as recited in claim 11, wherein the recording isa digital versatile disc, and wherein said storage unit stores titlesand identifiers of digital versatile discs in a database.
 13. Arecording playback and data input device, comprising: detecting meansfor detecting activation of a data input device during playback of therecording; and control means for automatically entering a data inputmode in response to said detecting, while continuing playback of therecording.
 14. A device as recited in claim 13, wherein said device iscoupled to a video screen, wherein said device further comprises outputmeans for generating a video output on the video screen based on a videosignal stored on the recording and for overlaying the video output withan on-screen text display, and wherein said control means includes meansfor controlling said output means to continue playback of the recordingin the data input mode.
 15. A device as recited in claim 14, whereinsaid device is coupled to a keyboard, further comprising: data inputmeans for receiving signals from the keyboard, and storage means forstoring characters input from the keyboard as information related to therecording, wherein said detecting means includes means for detectinginput of a first character from the keyboard, and wherein said controlmeans includes means for causing said output means to generate theon-screen text display for the characters input using the keyboard,starting with the first character, in response to detection of the firstcharacter.
 16. A device as recited in claim 15, wherein said controlmeans includes means for activating the on-screen text display only ifthere is no information related to the recording stored in said storagemeans when input of the first character is detected.
 17. A device asrecited in claim 16, wherein the recording is a digital versatile disc,and wherein said storage means stores titles and identifiers of digitalversatile discs in a database.
 18. At least one program embodied on acomputer readable medium, the program controlling a computer to performa method comprising: detecting activation of a data input device duringplayback of a recording; and automatically entering a data input mode inresponse to said detecting, while continuing playback of the recording.19. At least one program as recited in claim 18, wherein at least partof the output from the recording appears on a video screen, and whereinsaid entering includes generating a display for data input on the videoscreen displaying the output from the recording.
 20. At least oneprogram as recited in claim 19, wherein the data input device is akeyboard, wherein said detecting includes detecting a first character tobegin said generating of the display, and wherein said entering includesdisplaying and storing characters input from the keyboard, starting withthe first character.
 21. At least one program as recited in claim 20,further comprising storing information associated with the recording,and wherein said entering is performed only if the informationassociated with the recording is not previously stored when the firstcharacter is detected.
 22. At least one program as recited in claim 21,wherein the recording is a digital versatile disc, and wherein saidentering includes entering a title of the digital versatile disc.
 23. Atleast one program as recited in claim 22, wherein said generating isperformed by a digital versatile disc player using on-screen displaycapability.
 24. At least one program as recited in claim 23, whereinsaid storing uses a database accessible by the digital versatile discplayer and including at least identifiers and titles for digitalversatile discs, and wherein said method further comprises determining,upon detection of the first character, whether the digital versatiledisc currently being played has a corresponding identifier in thedatabase.
 25. A system for playing digital versatile discs, comprising:an output unit to output video and audio signals stored on a currentlyplaying digital versatile disc and to produce an on-screen text display;a data input unit; a storage unit storing database including at leasttitles and identifiers of the digital versatile discs; and a controlunit, coupled to said output unit, said data input unit and said storageunit, to automatically activate the on-screen text display and enter adata input mode upon detecting input of data using said data input unitduring playback of the currently playing digital versatile disc if thedatabase in said storage unit does not have a title associated with thecurrently playing digital versatile disc, and to store the title of thecurrently playing digital versatile disc in the database when said inputunit receives an indication of completion of data input.